Capsule and tablet pocket carrier



Jan. 15, 1957 L. s. MYTINGER 2,777,570

CAPSULE AND TABLET POCKET CARRIER Filed Aug. 3, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 V -JJ'- 7 WJ/ @1M ./4 y @MM2/ZM@ Jan. 15, 1957 s, MYTINGER 2,777,570

CAPSULE AND TABLET ROCKET CARRIER Filed Aug. 3 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 LEE .S MynA/GEA?,

IN V EN TOR.

bwluh Q w rraP/vfy United States Patent CAPSULE AND TABLET POCHT CARRER Lee S. Mytinger, Rolling Hills, Calif.

Application August 3, 1954, Serial No. 447,506

4 Claims3 (Cl. 206-42) My invention relates to the field of containers, and more particularly to a pocket carrier for capsules and tablets. The present application is a continuation-in-part of my now abandoned application Serial No. 162,014 led May 15, 1950, entitled Capsule and Tablet Pocket Carrier.

Although pocket containers have long been used for carrying either a small quantity of tablets or a daily supply of capsules, in practical use a number of disadvantages have been found in the majority of such containers as for example, the contents thereof are not held in xed position therein whereby the tablets or capsules are subjected to suihcient movement during carrying that they become chipped or otherwise damaged, depending upon the brittle nature thereof.

Previously available containers employed for carrying a current supply of tablets or capsules present a further disadvantage in that they must be fully opened in order to determine whether an adequate supply is contained therein. Also, when the container is opened sufficiently wide to permit removal of a tablet or capsule therefrom, considerably more of the container contents than that desired to remove is exposed, which is not only unsanitary, but creates the hazard of accidentally spilling some or all of the container contents.

The primary purpose in devising my present invention is to provide a compact pocket carrier for both tablets and capsules that substantially eliminates the above outlined disadvantages, and one that presents a novel and ornamental appearance whether it be open or closed.

A major object of my invention is to provide a handy carrier for both tablets and capsules by means of which the contents thereof are visible at all times, and in which the contents are so arranged that but a predetermined number of tablets and capsules need be exposed Vat the time it is desired to withdraw one or more of the tablets or capsules therefrom.

Another object of my invention is to furnish a tablet and capsule container in which more than a days supply thereof may be carried, yet which occupies a minimum of space, is of extremely simple mechanical structure, may be easily operated by either a child or adult, and is suiciently rugged of construction as to have a long and useful service life.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tablet and capsule pocket carrier that may be fabricated from standard commercially available materials, is inexpensive to mnufacture, and as a result is especially well adapted for use as a gift to customers using a particular tablet or capsule product, or may be sold in the low-priced merchandising eld.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description of several forms thereof, and from the drawing illustrating those forms in which:

Figure l is a plan view of my capsule and tablet carrier showing the lid in the closed position;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the device with the lid in a partially open position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of my carrier taken on the line 3--3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is av vertical cross-sectional view of my invention taken on line 4 4 of` Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the device taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device taken on line 6 6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a perspective View of an alternate form of my capsule and table carrier showing the lid partially open;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of my invention as illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the device taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8; andN Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional viev.r of the device taken on line 10--10 of Figure 8.

Referring now to Figures l, 2 and 3 for the general arrangement of the first form of my invention, it willjbe seen to include a substantially rectangular container C on which a lid L is slidably mounted.

Container C comprises two oppositely disposed end walls 10 and 11, joined at each end thereof by side Walls 12. A longitudinally extending flange 13 is formed on the outer surface of each side wall, as may be seen in Figures 2 and 5. The bottom 14 of container C is somewhat thicker in vertical cross section than theend walls 10 and 11 and side Walls 12, in which bottom a number of lid L may be fabricated from a number of materials, but

for ease of manufacture and to provide an attractive uished article, I prefer to use one of the transparent synthetic plastics from which my invention may be molded.

Substantially rectangular lid L is formed from a plate4 17 and is provided with a longitudinally extending U- shaped member 1S on two opposing sides thereof. Members 1S are so spaced relative to one another as to permit slidable engagement thereof with flanges 13 whereby lid L may be slidcpen and closed, as shown in Figures l and 2.

To prevent the lid L from sliding beyond the closed position, a downwardly depending stop member 19 is provided on one end thereof, and when the lid is fully closed, member 19 is positioned ush against' the outer face of end wall 11. A downwardly extending catch member 20 is also formed on the end of plate 17 of the lid opposite that on which stop 19 is located (Figures 1, 2 and 3), which catch engages the upper edge of end wall 10 when lid L is fully closed, and serves to removably hold the lid in this position.

ln use the operation of my invention is extremely simple. Tablets and capsules (shown in phantom line) are deposited in the container C, with the tablets being placed in depressions 15, and the capsules in cavities 16. Lid L may then be slid into closed position (Figure 1), and when in this position the contents of the container C are completely enclosed and maintained in a sanitary condition until needed. As the container C and lid L are preferably fabricated from a transparent material, the number of tablets and capsules situated in the carrier are readily visible at all times without the necessity of removing the lid therefrom.

My pocket carrier may be opened, as shown in Figure 2, to permit withdrawal of tablets and capsules therefrom by exerting a slight upward pressure on the center of lid L. Such pressure is sutlicient to disengage the Vcatch member 20 from end wall 10, and thereby permit lid L to be slidably opened to the position shown in Figure 2.

The detailed construction of another form of my invention is shown in Figures 7 to 10, which includes a substantially rectangular open-topped container 50 wherein a plurality of tablets 52 and capsules 54 may be removably disposed in annular depressions 56 and elongate cavities 58 respectively. From the bottom 60 of container 50 two side walls 62 and two end walls 64 and 66 extend upwardly, with the two side walls terminating in two outwardly projecting anges F that are parallel to the bottom. Flanges F are integrally formed parts of walls 62, and for easy reference herein may be considered to comprise segments 62a thereof. As may best be seen in Figure 8, the corner junctions 64b and 66b of segments 62a and end walls 64 land 66 respectively are curved or rounded, the importance of which will become apparent hereinafter.

Alid 70 is provided for container 50 that may be slidably mounted thereon and removably close same. Lid 70 is constituted by a rectangular plate 72 that has side edges 74, a forwardly disposed end edge 76, and a rearwardly disposed end edge 77; Two intermediately,

positioned L-shaped members 78 depend downwardly from side edges 74, which members are comprised of vertical legs 80 that terminate in horizontal inwardly projecting lips 82. In Figure 8 it will be seen that no L-shaped members 78 areprovided on portions 74a of the plate side edges 74. The L-shaped members 78 are adapted to slidably engage anges Fand thus permit movement of lid 70 relative to container 50.

A downwardly extending catch 83 is formed on the under side of plate 72 adjacent edge 76 thereof. The catch is adapted to removably engage a portion of the upper exterior surface of the container end wall 64 whereby the lid 70 is maintained in a container-closing position. The rear edge 77 of the lid develops into an intermediately positioned downward extension 77a which serves the dual function of a stop when it comes into contact with the container end wall 66 and prevents forward lid movement beyond the closed position thereof, as well as acting as means that may be engaged by a thumb nail or fingernail to disengage catch 83 and permit the lid to be moved to a position where the contents of the container will be available.

In Figures 8 and 10 it will be seen that the inner surface of the container bottom 60 has two levels, the lower level of which is generally designated 84, and theele vated level, 86. The capsule-receiving cavities 58 are formed in the lower area 84, and the tablet-receiving depressions 56 in area 86. Depressions 56 are in a common plane, equidistantly spaced from one another. Each four depressions define an area 88 therebetween that is higher than the surface 86a of the elevated area 86, as Well as being higher than the horizontal center line of tablets 52 when disposed in depressions 56. The vertical distanceV between the interior surface of lid 70 and the upper. elevated surface area 88 is less than the thickness of tablets 52, whereby when the tablets are positioned Within the depressions and the lid 70 is closed thereover, they have a very short range of movement.

The capsules 54, which are normally consumed concurrent with the tablets 52, are of greater thickness than the latter. Accordingly, cavities 58 which are of a length to accommodate the shape of capsules 54, are formed in the lower area S4, and so long as the depth of these cavities is greater than the space between the upper surface 54a of the capsules and the interior surface of the lid, no substantial displacement out of cavities 58 in which they are disposed will be possible during the time lid 70 is in a closed position on the container.

Positioning of the depressions 56 relative to the cavities 58 is important both from the standpoint of sanitation, as well as substantially eliminating the possibility of accidental spilling of all or a portion of the container contents. Therefore, the cavities 58 are so disposed relative to the depressions S6 that 3S tht? lid 70 is moved rearwardly from the closed position, as shown in Figure 8,

but a single row of tablets and one capsule are exposed for removal from the container. In this manner the balance of the tablets and capsules in the container are thus not only maintained in a sanitary condition, but inadvertent spillage thereof is substantially avoided.

The number of depressions 56 in each row is based on the recommended tablet dosage to be taken at one time, as is the case with respect to the position of the capsulereceiving cavities 58. In the present instance the depressions and cavities have been so disposed that one capsule at least is available with each three tablets when the lid is slid back suiciently to expose each successive dosage. This three-tablet and one capsule arrangement has been elected to illustrate the operation of my invention, as it is the recommended dosage of the nationally distributed food supplement with which the device is used. However, it will be apparent that the present invention is not restricted to this precise positioning of depressions and cavities.

In actual use the operation of the second form of my invention is substantially the same as that of the first form previously described. One particularly novel feature of the second form of the device is the intermediate location of the L-shaped members 7S and the curved flange junctions 66b, which cooperatively provide easy slidable mounting of the lid 70 on the container. When the forwardly disposed side edges of the lid are grasped between the thumb and forefinger, and the lid is moved toward the container in such a manner that those portions of the thumb and forenger directly ahead of the supported lid slidably Contact the edges of ange F, the forwardly disposed inner surface of the lid will first contact the ilange and establish horizontal alignment between` the lid and container. L-shaped members 78 with anges F is automatically determined and guided by junctions 66b which slidably contact the forward extremities of members 78 after horizontal alignment between the lid and cover has been established. As forward movement is continued, junctions 66b, due to their curvature, guide the lid laterally until the L-shaped members 78l slidablyengage flange F. Thus, should the lid be entirely removed from the container, it may be easily and quickly returned to its normal slidable position thereon, even in `a dimly lighted room or restaurant.

Although the forms of my capsule and tablet pocket carrier herein shown and described are fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that they are merely the presently preferred embodiments thereof and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details of construction shown and described other than defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A capsule and tablet carrying device which includes: a substantially rectangular one-piece container formed with a bottom and side walls having smooth external surfaces, the interior surface of which bottom is divided into a raised portion and a lowered portion substantially parallel to one another, said bottom raised portion being formed with a plurality of annular cavities disposed in side-by-side relationship for holding tablets, said bottom lower portion being formed with a plurality of elongate cavities disposed end-to-end in at least one row extending substantially the length of said container, each of which elongate vcavities is capable of holding a capsule; twoV flanges extending outwardly from the upper edges of opposite side walls of said container; a rectangular lid formed with two lips of substantially L-shaped transverse cross section that extend the length of opposite sides thereof and slidably engage said flanges; `a downwardly extending catch member formed on one end of said lid that removably engages the upper exterior edge portion gf one of the end walls of said container when Vertical alignment of the.

avrai-aro said lid is in a container-closing position to so maintain it against inadvertent opening; and a downwardly disposed stop member formed on the end of said lid opposite that on which said catch member is formed, said stop member abutting against the exterior surface of said container when said lid is in the closed position to serve both as a `stop and an opening means when outward pressure is applied thereto.

2. A container as dened in claim l in which each part of said raised bottom portion situated between four of said cavities projects upwardly rand terminates above the horizontal centerline of said tablets disposed in said annular cavities, which extensions and the interior surface of said cover cooperatively prevent displacement of said tablets out of said cavities when said container is subjected to motion during carrying thereof.

3. A fiat, compact carrier in which a plurality of annular tablets and elongate capsules may be so maintained in xed position therein that a predetermined number of tablets and at least one capsule are successively made available for withdrawal therefrom without exposing the balance of said tablets and capsules contained therein, which includes: a one-piece substantially rectangular container fabricated from a rigid substantially transparent material, which container is constituted by a bottom having two side walls and two end walls extending upwardly therefrom, which side walls terminate on their upper edges in outwardly projecting llat anges that form curved corner junctions with said end walls, said bottom having a plurality of annular tablet-receiving depressions formed therein that are arranged in a plurality of rows, each of which rows are norm-ally disposed to said side walls and adapted to receive said predetermined number of tablets, said bottom also have a plurality of elongate capsule-receiving cavities formed therein norm-ally positioned relative to said side walls, with at least one of said cavities being in alignment with each of said rows, and each four of said depressions defining an area therebetween projecting upwardly above the surface of said bottom in which said depressions are formed to terminate at a point below the upper edges of said walls and less than the thickness of said tablets; a lid in the form of a substantially rectangular transparent plate that is dened by two side edges, a front edge, and a rear edge, which plate has a catch depending downwardly from the underside thereof adjacent said front edge, and a stop depending downwardly from the underside thereof adjacent said rear edge thereof; and two elongate L- shaped members extending downwardly from intermediately located sections of said lid side edges and so positioned as to slidably engage said anges, which lid when fully disposed on said container is removably held in a closed position thereon by said catch that engages said forward end Wall, and which stop serves to prevent forward movement of said lid on said container beyond a fully closed position as well as means to move said lid rearwardly thereon when said stop is engaged by a thumb nail or ngernail, with the underside of said lid when in a closing position on said container cooperating with said `areas between said depressions to provide restricted spaces in which said tablets are maintained, which lid also serves to maintain said capsules in said cavities due to the space provided between the underside of said lid and the upper capsule surfaces being less than that between the tops of said cavities and the lowermost portions thereof.

4. A carrier as defined in claim 3 in which said bottom is subdivided into a lirst area in which said capsulereceiving cavities are formed and a second area of higher elevation than said rst area in which said tablet-receiving depressions are formed, the upper surfaces of which tablets and capsules when disposed in said depressions and cavities are situated substantially the same distance below the underside of said lid when it is moved onto said container and positioned thereover.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,378,003 Duell rune 12, 1945 2,559,287 Duell et al. July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 679,399 Germany Aug. 4, 1939 556,979 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1943 

